GUILLERMO ESTRADA FIRMALINO, JR.

SUPT (Ret) BFP

Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology

Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Science in Criminology
Fire Officer 1, Firefighter BFP
FO1- FO3, Fire Arson Investigator
INSP, Chief- IAS, FSES, FARD
SINSP, Chief- Intelligence and Investigation
Section, Station Cmdr- Stn 2 & Stn 4
CINSP, Chief- Admin, IAS, Personnel & Trng
CINSP, Deputy District Fire Firector-Manila
SUPT (Ret)
 Seminar on Investigation,
Processes and Filing of Cases
 COURSE OUTLINE

1. LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE

2. DEFINITION OF TERMS
3. INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES
4. MOTIVES
5. STAGES OF CRIME
6. ACCIDENTAL FIRES
7. DETERMINATION OF ORIGIN OF FIRE
8. INDICATORS OF ARSON FIRE
9. FIRE- EXPLOSION RELATIONSHIP
10.BURNED BODIES
11.INVESTIGATION REPORT (FOLDER)
12.CASE SCENARIO/ ACTIVITY
I. LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE
The law on arson in the Philippines is covered by:

1. Articles 320 to 326 of the Revised Penal Code,

as amended by PD No. 1613, PD No. 1744, and
2. Sec. 54 Rule VIII IRR of RA 6975 which provides
that the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) shall
have the power to investigate all causes of fires
and, if necessary, file the proper complaint with
the City/Provincial prosecutor who has
jurisdiction over arson cases.
 A.The Law of Arson
1. Article 320 – 326 of the Revised Penal Code
Defines Arson its forms and penalties.
2. PD 1613 – Amending the Law on Arson.
Defining the Prima Facie Evidence of Arson.
3. PD 1744 – Amending Article 320 of RPC.
Imposing death penalty to arsonist.

*But after the EDSA Revolution 1, death penalty was

abolished by then President Corazon C. Aquino.
4. RA 7659 – An act to impose death penalty on
certain heinous crimes, amending for that
purpose the Revised Penal Code. As
amended, other special laws, and for other
purposes.
5. RA 6975 Sec. 54 – Which provides that the
Fire Bureau shall have the power to
investigate all causes of fires and if
necessary file the proper complaint with the
City/Provincial Prosecutor who has
jurisdiction over the case.
 B. Elements of Arson

1. Actual burning took place

2. Actual burning is done with malicious
intent.
3. The actual burning is done by
person(s) legally and criminally
liable.
 C. Prima Facie Evidence of Arson

1. If the fire started simultaneously in more than

one part of the building or establishment.

2. If substantial amount of flammable

substances or materials are stored within the
building not necessary in the business of the
offender nor for household use.
3. If gasoline, kerosene, petroleum or other
flammable or combustible substances or
materials soaked therewith or containers,
thereof, or any mechanical electrical, chemical
or electronic contrivance designed to start a
fire, or ashes or traces of any foregoing are
found in the ruins or premises of the burned
building or property.
4. If the building or property is insured for
substantially more than its actual value at the
time of the issuance of policy.

5. If during the lifetime of the corresponding

fire insurance policy more than two fire have
occurred in the same or other premises
owned or under the control of the offender
and/or insured.
6. If shortly before the fire a substantial of the
effects and stored in building or property had
been withdrawn from the premises except in
the ordinary course of business.

7. If a demand for money or other valuable

consideration was made before the fire in
exchange for the distance of the offender or
for the safety of the person or property of the
victim.
 II. Definition of Terms
INVESTIGATE – To seek information about by
searching into or examining.

INVESTIGATION - An examination for the

purpose of discovering information about
something.

INVESTIGATION - Discussion, examination,

exploration, inquiry, interrogation, pursuit, query,
question, research, review, search, scrutiny.
III.Investigation Procedures
General. - Arson, the malicious burning of property,
is one of the most difficult offense to
investigate. The arsonist attempts to
successfully set a fire and to escape
undetected. This is most often accomplished by
using an ignition-delaying device that allows the
arsonist to leave the scene before the fire
started. The fire can consume the scene and
destroy much physical evidence of the offense.
Harder forms of evidence are often buried in
debris and glossy altered in appearance.
 a.) Almost invariably, it is circumstantial evidence that
supports the investigator’s conclusions. This
circumstantial evidence must be strong enough to
establish strong connection between the suspect
and the fire.
This Characteristic of arson, and the physical appearance
of the scene, is the same; whether of criminal or accidental
origin, makes proof a very complex investigative task.
Although the circumstances may be definitely suspicious,
accidental fires are common and the investigator must
eliminate every possibility of natural or accidental causes
before he can build a hypothesis of arson.
b.) These are some of the basic difficulties in
detecting and investigating arson.
The problem of serious fire, when the scene is
a smoldering ruin, may seem impossible;
However, an investigator applying the scientific
and practical techniques of arson
investigation can determine the origin and
cause of the fire and recover vital physical
evidence from the fire scene.
Collection and Analysis of Evidence

The Investigative activities discussed in

the preceding paragraphs and other
functions discussed here proceed in the
collection of all real, direct and
circumstantial evidence required to
support each element of proof.
1. An investigator may examine records, such as inventories,
financial statements, and bills of sale; personnel rosters of
persons employed and of persons recently discharged; fire
department records of previews fires; insurance records,
blueprints; local police records of known incendiaries; and
records of recent repairs or alternations.
2. Warrants and court orders may be applied for and
obtained, and inspections made of safe deposit-boxes and
bank accounts. If necessary, apprehensions and searches
of premises may be accomplished.
3. The owner of the damage property is
questioned concerning his activities at the
time of the fire. He is also questioned
regarding prior arrests, apprehensions,
convictions, previews fires, financial
standing, businesses, domestic conditions,
and hobbies or amusements that could have
caused reverses in his financial situation.
4. All witnesses are questioned. The last
person to leave the premises is questioned
as to the time of his leaving, the conditions of
the premises at that time, how he secured
the premises, the location of the keys, and
other person who possessed keys or had
access to the premises. The investigator
must record carefully and clearly all pertinent
information obtained from witnesses.
5. When a large-scale, methodical search of
the fire scene and debris is required,
detailed plans and provisions for assistance
must be made as required. In any fire scene
search, the investigator is looking for the
unusual, something out of order, some
material or thing foreign to the premises, or
something present but out of place or in
other than a normal condition.
The investigator should attempt to mentally
reconstruct the burned structure and relative
location of its contents, to determine what
changes exist from the normal.
For instance, the presence of a gasoline
can in the debris of boiler room might be
readily explained or highly unusual.
6. A fire that has been extinguished with only one room
or a hallway involved may present little problem in
locating the point of origin and collecting evidence of
cause; however, a fire in which several floors have
collapsed may present a complex searching problem.
The actual sifting of debris for the presence of
suspicious articles and devices, such as fuses, clocks,
cans, bottles, wires, accelerant residues, peculiarly
colored ashes, soot, unusual formation of clinkers,
impregnated materials, etc. may constitute the major
portion of the fire scene search.
7. Evidence obtained during the
investigation must be accurately located and
depicted in sketches and photographs
properly marked and preserved.
a. Photography in fire scene searches is very
important and pictures should be taken of the
fire while it is actually burning, and at its
height, to validate witness testimony of
location of blaze, direction of wind, smoke,
etc. As the search continues, pictures should
be made of the point of origin, effects of the
blaze, items of evidentiary value and pictures
that demonstrate the lack of relationship
between separate fires.
b. A detailed Crime Scene Sketch should be
made of the point of origin and area
sketches including all essential details
surrounding the immediate area. The sketch
should be made to scale with measurements
and points of references definitely locating
all objects of evidence and other major
features of the scene. Items of evidence
and other important features should be
plainly marked in the sketch.
8. The laboratory may help the investigator to
determine the cause of burning by identifying and
evaluating evidences obtain from the scene of the
fire. It can determine the composition and pertinent
physical properties (such as flash point, solubility,
volatility, and heat of combustion) of any flammable
liquid, oil, or wax, either in a relatively pure state or
in traces, that may be found by the investigator. It is
able to detect in debris samples the presence of a
foreign chloride, perchlorate, nitrate, sulfide, or
sulfate that may have been used as an igniting
agent.
a. Residue of accelerants that is to be submitted to the
laboratory for examination must be placed in airtight
containers, such as Mason jars and forwarded to the
laboratory as soon as possible.
b. An air mail, registered letter giving the information
below is sent at the same time as the evidence that is to
be examined by the laboratory is forwarded.

c. Evidence recovered from explosions will be forwarded

to concerned agencies. Explosion evidence and
unexploded bombs should be handled only by
appropriate explosive experts.
 RIGHT OF ENTRY
The fact that an investigator has authority to
conduct an investigation does not necessarily
mean that he or she has the legal right to enter
the property that was involved in the fire. Rights
of entry are frequently enumerated by statutes,
rules, and regulations.
Illegal entry upon the property could result in
charges against the investigator (i.e.,
trespassing; breaking and entering; or
obstructing, impeding, or hampering a criminal
investigation).
Whereas “right of entry” refers to the legal authority to
be on a given premise, or fire scene, this section
concerns itself with how the authority is obtained.

There are four general methods by which entry may

obtained:
1. consent,
2. exigent circumstance,
3. administrative search warrant, and
4. criminal search warrant.
1. Consent. The person in lawful control of the
property can grant the investigator permission or
consent to enter and remain on the property. This
is a voluntary act on the part of the responsible
person and can be withdrawn at anytime by that
person. When consent is granted, the investigator
should document it. One effective method is to
have the person in lawful control sign a written
waiver.
2. Exigent Circumstance. It is generally
recognized that the fire department has the
legal authority to enter a property to control
and extinguish a hostile fire. It has also been
held that the fire department has an
obligation to determine the origin and cause
of the fire in the interest of the public good
and general welfare.
3. Administrative Search Warrant. The
purpose of an administrative search warrant
is generally to allow those charged with
responsibility, by ordinance or statute, to
investigate the origin and cause of fire and
fulfill their obligation to the law.
An administrative search warrant may be obtained from
a court of competent jurisdiction showing that consent
has not been granted or has been denied. It is not issued
upon the traditional showing of “probable cause”, as is
the criminal search warrant, although it is still necessary
to demonstrate that the search is reasonable. The
search must be justified by a showing of reasonable
governmental interest. If a valid public interest justifies
the intrusions, then valid and reasonable probable cause
has been demonstrated.
The scope of an administrative search
warrant is limited to the investigation of the
origin and cause of the fire. If during the
search permitted by an administrative
search warrant, evidence of a crime is
discovered, the search should be stopped
and a criminal search warrant obtained.
4. Criminal Search Warrant. The purpose of
the criminal search warrant is to allow the
entry of government officials or agents to
search for or collect any evidence of a
crime. A criminal search warrant is obtained
upon the traditional showing of probable
cause, in that the investigator is required to
show that probable cause exist that a crime
has been committed.
 THE CAUSES OF FIRE AND ELIMINATION OF
NATURAL CAUSES OF FIRE

I. Frequently it is possible to come up with a reasonable

idea as to the cause of the fire if complete information can
be secured as to exactly what was in the building, exactly
where and how it was placed or arranged, its fire
potentiality, and a possible source of ignition.

II. Fires do not just happen. They are the result of

chemical reactions and like any other action, are the result
of definite causes.
 IV.Motives

a.) Insurance Fraud. This offense normally involves

burning of one’s own property to wrongfully collect
(defraud) insurance money for the loss, by fire, of
the insured property.

b.) Grudge and Spite Fires. An individual seeking to

revenge a wrong, either real or fancied, may attempt
to injure or to cause hardship to the person who
caused the wrong. Because a fire may inflict both
physical and financial injury, it may be used as a
medium for revenge.
c.) Fires to Cause Public Disturbances. An
offender may resort to arson as a means
of causing a public disturbance. A fire
attracts people, is destructive, causes
confusion, and gives rise to attendant
problems that divert police attention.

d.) Sabotage Fires. Arson is one of the

saboteur’s most effective weapons.
e.) Fires to Conceal Other Crimes. A criminal may
attempt to cover another crime with a fire; he
may reason that the burning will appear
accidentally and will destroy the evidence of the
original crime. A murderer may burn both the
scene and the victim in the hope that the corpse
will be destroyed or the cause of death
obliterated. A burglar may use fire to cover
burglary.
f.) Fires by Pyromaniacs. Because the
pyromaniacs commits the crime of arson to
satisfy an overpowering impulse, he usually
does not seek any insurance indemnity or
other material gain.

g.) Fires by Vandals. Vandalism, as used in the

discussion, is a general term denoting
intentional burning to destroy property.
 V. STAGES OF CRIME

1. Article 6 Revised Penal Code

Attempted Crime
There is an attempt when the offender
commences the commission of a felony directly or
overt acts, and does not perform all the acts of
execution which should produce the felony by
reason of some cause or accident other than his
own spontaneous desistance.
An attempt to commit a crime occurs if a
criminal has an intent to commit a crime
and takes a substantial step toward
completing the crime, but for reasons not
intended by the criminal, the final
resulting crime does not occur
(Wikipedia).
 2. Article 6 RPC
Frustrated Crime

… and it is frustrated when the offender performs

all the acts of execution which would produce the
felony as a consequence but which, nevertheless,
do not produce it by reason of causes independent
of the will of perpetrator.
 Example of Frustrated Arson
CC # 04231555 1939H 21 October 2004

That on or about October 21, 2004, in the City of Manila, Philippines,

the said accused, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously,
set fire to a house located at 2281 Anonas St., Sta. Mesa, Manila, this
city, which is the dwelling place of the said accused by then and there
igniting a match and burning a rug which was placed in a wooden floor
of the said house, thus performing all the acts of execution which
should have produced the crime of arson, as a consequence, but
nevertheless did not produce it by reason of causes independent of his
will, that is, by the timely discovery of ____ neighbor of the said
accused and his other neighbors, who put out the fire before it burned
any part of the aforesaid house. Contrary to law.
 3. Article 6 RPC
Consummated Crime

A felony is consummated when all the

elements necessary for its execution and
accomplishment are present;
 VI. Accidental Fires

A fire may be presumed to be accidental until

accidental causes are eliminated or evidence is
found indicating that arson is the cause.

“All fires are considered accidental until

otherwise it is proven to be intentional or arson”.
The following are the more common accidental
causes and some background information:

a.) Loose energized (Faulty) electrical wiring,

including improper voltage and low line capacity;
electric motors that have become overheated
because of neglect in their care, cleaning, oiling
and other required maintenance and pressing,
soldering, and other electric irons that have been
unattended while in use.
1.) The electrical system of a building
rarely causes a fire if the installation is
up to date and the fuses are working.
Fires causes through the electrical
system may be due to overloading the
circuit, faulty contacts, sparks,
carelessness or intentional acts.

2.) Wall receptacles in the area where a

fire started may reveal evidence of
multiple plug devices which accidentally
permitted overloading of the circuit.
3.) Extension cords can cause fires by
increasing the length of a circuit thus
increasing the resistance on the line
which in turn cannot be handled by the
light wire in the extension cord.

4.) It is not uncommon in electrical fires for

witness to see a brilliant flash and
actually hear a short circuit. The odor left
in the air from the arcing of electricity is
also recognizable.
5.) Fires can start in electrical appliances,
equipment or tool. In most cases where
an electric motor catches fire it is
because of bearings not being
lubricated, faulty starting mechanism or
excessive dirt or lint in the motor.
b.) Spontaneous combustion is a
phenomena in which a combustible
material or combination of materials
generate or produces heat because of
internal chemical action (oxidation) and
eventually ignites without any exposure
to external sources of fire, spark or
abnormal heat.
1.) Many substances have a tendency to
spontaneous combustion when various
conditions operate to create or facilitate a
dangerous condition. Coal dust, flour, hay,
grain, and other plant products; and
porous materials such as rags, papers,
etc. soaked in oils are especially
susceptible to spontaneous combustion.
2.) The factors contributing to
spontaneous combustion are many
and varied depending on the material
concerned. Generally, hot, humid
weather and lack of air circulation
facilitate the internal generation of
heat.
3.) Spontaneous heat production originates
in the deepest interior of the mass
suspected of being the fire source. A
simple field test for spontaneous
combustion involves stripping away the
exterior layers of the burned mass. If the
deepest interior is not burned,
spontaneous ignition has not occurred.
 VII. Determination 0f Origin of Fire
1.) The point where the fire originated may be
determined by locating to the last place
reached by the fire, then determining where the
fire normally spread to that place from. Traces
of smoke and charring help indicate the reverse
route. Keep in mind the natural path of fire is
upward. It travels vertically rather than
horizontally until it meets an obstacle to its
progress.
2.) Other factors such as heat
accumulation, heat radiation and source
of oxygen may cause a fire to progress
in ways that conflict with the above
rules. This is contributed by the special
considerations that may occur in the fire
development.
3.) Another technique related to tracing
the normal path of the fire to its origin,
involves tracing the path of the burning
to its sources by observing the
intensity of the destruction and
charring of the uprights.
4.) Origin of the fire can also be traced
through the so-called FIRE PATTERNS.

4.1.) One of the major objectives of a

fire scene examination is the
recognition, identification, and analysis
of fire patterns. The analysis of fire
patterns is performed in an attempt to
trace fire spread, identify areas and
points of origin, and identify the fuels
involved.
4.2.) Fire Pattern Development. The
damage created by the flame,
radiation, hot gases, and smoke
creates patterns that investigators use
to locate the area or point of fire origin.
4.3.) Fire Patterns include thermal effects
on materials, such as charring,
oxidation, consumption of
combustibles, smoke and soot
deposits, distortion, melting, color
changes, changes in the character of
materials, structural collapse, and
other effects.
 4.4.) KINDS OF FIRE PATTERNS

a.) Lines or Areas of Demarcation. These

are the borders defining the differences
in certain heat and smoke effects of the
fire upon various materials. They
appear between the affected area and
adjacent unaffected or less affected
areas.
b.) Surface Effect. The nature and
material of the surface that contains
the fire pattern will have a bearing on
the shape and nature of the pattern
itself.
c.) Penetration of horizontal surfaces, from
above or below, can be caused by
radiant heat, direct flame impingement,
or localized smoldering with or without
the effects of ventilation.
d.) Charring – It is an exposure of elevated
temperatures in which a material
undergoes chemical decomposition
that drives off gases, water vapor, and
various pyrolysis products as smoke.
Char shrinks as it forms, and develop
cracks and blisters.
e.) Fusion – Is the change in formation of
metals, glass or plastic due to being
exposed to high temperatures, sometimes
it is called melting.
f.) Spalling – Is the breakdown in tensile strength of
concrete or brick, usually accompanied by a
color change. Sometimes it causes chipping.
Spalling is caused by the application of heat in
the high temperature ranges (above 2000
degrees F) to concrete, brick, stone or mortar.
i.e. Color changes, boiling out of residual
moisture which causes small lines or stress
cracks upon the surface, disrupted or chipped
by the spalling effect, due to the explosion of
trapped moisture.
 VIII. INDICATORS OF ARSON FIRE

a.) Separate or Multiple Fires.

Separate, non-related, simultaneous
burning fire, like fires in separate
compartments of an automobiles, or
separate parts of a structures are good
evidence of an arson fire.
b.)Incendiary Devices.
An incendiary device is a manufactured or
improvised device used to ignite, spread or
accelerate an incendiary fire. Variations in design
and functioning of incendiary devices are limited
only by the imagination of the arsonist. They can
highly complex devices or simple improvisation
created from everyday household items found in
the garage, kitchen and medicine cabinet.
b.1.) Trailers.
One of the most common methods of
spreading fires is to employ “trailers”.
Trailers are simply trails of flammable
liquid or other flammable substances
leading from the sources of ignition to
one or more other rooms or areas and
often up or downstairs.
b.2.) The Candle is not only an ignition
unit, but also a delay device which can
be cut to a desired burning-time length.
b.3.) Matches are used as igniters in many
simple incendiary devices. Perhaps the
simplest match device involves tying a
bundle of matches around a burning
cigarette or inserting a burning cigarette
into a book of matches and then
inserting any of these devices into a “set-
up” of flammable materials.
b.4.) Chemical Agents. Many Oxidizing
agents employed in industry,
agriculture and the home have
incendiary qualities ideally suited for
delay and ignition devices in arson.
Most chemical ignition units leave some residue
or distinctive odor, or both which can be
detected in laboratory analysis.
b.5.) Various Accelerants are used by
arsonist to raise the temperature of the
burning to lead the fire from one part of
the structure to another, to increase the
combustibility of materials and to
accelerate the place of fire.
a.) The most commonly used accelerants
are gasoline, kerosene, solvents,
alcohol, paint thinner, acetone, ether
and lighter fluid.

b.) Although most of the accelerant is

consumed in the fire, as mentioned
previously, in many cases, strong
indications of the use of an accelerant
can be found by physical examination of
the fire scene.
c.) In addition to saturating items with
accelerants, the arsonist may place
buckets, can, bottles and other
containers at the point of origin or at
other places on the premises. Rubber
containers are commonly used to hold
accelerants because they can be used
as a delay device and are also
consumed in the fire.
d.) The most common arson device in civil
disturbances is the “Molotov Cocktail”.
They are normally bottles, filled with
gasoline with a cloth wick attached. The
wick is lighted before the bottle is
thrown and when the bottle breaks the
wick ignites the splattering contents.
e.) Test samples should be taken of all
debris suspected of containing traces
of accelerants. Sample should be
taken as soon as possible and placed
in airtight containers.
6.)Gas. Although not commonly employed
by arsonist, natural gas, liquefied gas and
other cooking and heating gases can be
used to start an arson fire. Natural gas
explosions and fires often occur in gassing
suicides and may be caused by accidental
fires.
7.)Electrical. Wiring systems, including
telephone circuits, can be used as a fire-
setting tool. An electrical ignition device,
such as an electric heating coil in a bag of
waste paper, can be activated by turning
lights on, ringing a doorbell or receipt of a
telephone call. Some electrical appliances
are used to set fires.
Hot plates, iron and electric barbecue
starters can be effectively utilized to
directly ignite flammable objects placed
on them.
Electric light bulbs wrapped in cloth or
paper can be used as a delay and
ignition device in conjunction with “set-
ups” or accelerants and other
combustible materials.
8.) Mechanized Devices. Mechanical
delayed-ignition devices are very
reliable and have been frequently
used by arsonist and saboteurs. Their
design and function can range from
very complex and sophisticated
clockwork devices used by a saboteur
to the simple mouse trap-friction
devices previously mentioned.
9.)Electronics.
The rapidly expanding science of electronics
offers the arsonist some outstanding
capabilities. The variety of techniques and
apparatus is limited only by the skill and
imagination of the arsonist and the
investigator needs expert assistance in
recognizing and analyzing the technical
equipment and theories that might be used.
 IX. Fire – Explosion Relationships

Fire and explosion frequently occur together.

Thus relationship may occur in both
accidental and arson fires. An explosion in
conjunction with a fire may simply be
incidental to the contents of the structure and
nature of the burning or may relate to the
method used to start the fire or cause the
damage intended.
A. “Pressure explosions” which are sudden
release of energy held in restraint by a
mechanical shell occurring because the
pressure inside rises to exceed the
withholding efforts of the shell. Such an
explosion might occur in a boiler, tank, pipe
retaining jacket or pressurized machine
part. The release may be because of high
pressure strain, deterioration, mechanical
failure, etc.
B. Flammable gas explosions are sudden
release of heat energy when a combustible
mixture of gas and air or oxygen is ignite
and results in a sudden increase of volume.
The most common flammable gas
explosions involved the following flammable
liquids and gases. The cause of the
explosion can be again accidental,
incidental or intentional.
C. Chemical explosions are sudden
releases of energy by upsetting the
chemical balance of unstable chemical
compounds. The balance may be upset by
decomposition, heat, pressure, impart or
other disturbance of the chemical’s
capability. The result is a sudden change
from solid to vapor and tremendous
change in volume and resulting pressure.
 X. Burned Bodies

When a body is found in a fire scene the

primer investigative interest is whether the
person died in the fire or was dead before the
fire. This and related determinations may be
extremely difficult because of damage the fire
has done to the body and the destruction of
signs of violence on the scene.
 XI. INVESTIGATION REPORT

Fire Arson Investigation

-On Scene Initial Report (OSIR)
-Spot Investigation Report (SIR)
-Progress Investigation Report (PIR)
-Final Investigation Report (FIR)

-Fire Incident Investigation Report (FIIR)

-Crime Report / Arson Case Folder
 On Scene Initial Report (OSIR)

Location:
Brgy___, Zone____, District___
Chairman__________ CP #___
Involved:
Owner/ Occupant:
Origin:
Cause:
Injured/ Fatality:
Estimated Amount of Damages:
Investigator-on-Case:
Ground Commander:
Alarm Status:
First Alarm____ 4th Alarm_____ TFA____
2nd Alarm ____ 5th Alarm_____ TFB____
3rd Alarm ____ FUC ______ Fire Out _____
 Sketch of Fire Scene
(North on the Upper Right Side)
N

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEGEND:
Origin of Fire
Location of Fatality (If any)
Number of floors of the structures
Exact Location
Sketch By:____________
What need to be done at the Fire/ Crime Scene:

1. Cordoning by putting barricade lane/ yellow line or

“DO NOT CROSS/ FIRE LANE/ CRIME SCENE”
2. Photographs (Pictures), contents of bldg
3. Collection of Pieces of Evidence
Ashes/Debris for Lab exam
Burnt Electrical Wires, (analysis) etc…
4. Identification of Witnesses
5. Serving of Notice with docs requirements
6. Sketching (includes measurement), ETC.
 Spot Investigation Report (SIR)
(Must be completed and submitted within 24 hours)

LETTERHEAD

For : The District Fire Director

Subject: Spot Investigation Report; Fire

Incident at _______ ooa ____.

Date: ________
_________________________________________________
___________________________________
This pertains to a First alarm fire incident
at _____, responded by Fire Engine Coy Nr. __
and several fire volunteers. It was declared
Fire Under Control at about ____ before
officially declared Fire Out at about ____ by
(Fire Ground Commander.
 The scene of the fire is a two (2) storey residential
structure made of concrete materials under the G.I
sheets roofing owned/ occupied by _________. Ocular
inspection conducted by IIS Team led by (Chief, IIS)
and the undersigned investigator revealed that said
structure was heavily (or partially) gutted by fire and
damaging at least __ adjacent houses. Origin of fire
was determined at ground floor rear-right portion
kitchen area. Damage to property was estimated to
reached at PHP______.
 Witnesses were invited to shed light on the said fire
incident and the cause of the fire is still the subject of
follow-up investigation.
No sort of any complaint was filed against BFP
personnel who took part in the said fire operations.

For information.

________________
Investigator
Noted By:

_________________
Chief, IIS
 (Letterhead)

For : The District Fire Director

Subject: Spot Investigation Report; Fire

Incident at _______ ooa ____.

Date: ________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This pertains…..

The scene of a fire……

Witnesses were invited…..

No sort of any complaint…

For information.
___________________
Investigator
Noted By:
__________________
Chief, IIS
 Progress Investigation Report (PIR)
(Must be completed and submitted within 7-15 days)

For: The District Fire Director

Subject: Progress Investigation Report;
Fire Incident at ______
Date: ___________
_________________________________________________________

This pertains to a First Alarm fire incident…

(First and 2nd paragraph of Spot Inv. Report)

Details of Investigation:
At about ____ the team proceeded back at the fire scene. A
notice was served to (Owner/ Occupant/ Witnesses). Additional
photographs were taken, and collection of pieces of evidence
were collected for laboratory examination.
 At about ____ witness (Name, age, status,
job and address) arrived at this office and
voluntarily and freely gave his/her statements
( origin and cause of fire, trapped victims,
identity of perpetrator, status of the structure,
etc.)
__________________
Investigator
Noted By:
_______________
Chief, IIS
 Final Investigation Report (FIR)
(Must be completed and submitted within 30-45 days)

For: The District Fire Director

Subject: Final Investigation Report;
Fire Incident at ______
Date: _______
_____________________________________________
Authority:
Matters Investigated:
Facts of the Case:
Discussion:
Conclusion:
Recommendation:
Authority:
Section 54, RA 6975

Matters Investigated:
To determine the origin/ cause of fire.
To determine the criminal aspects of fire
any.

Facts of the Case:

(Narration of Facts/ Circumstances/
process of investigation)
Discussion: (Investigator’s appreciations)
It can be gleaned from the facts that…

The statements of witness A were

corroborated and supported by statements of
witness B)

This investigator was convinced that the

origin of the fire was at the _____.

The cause of the fire was due to (overheated,

short circuit, etc.)
Conclusion:
After careful evaluation and analysis of the case,
the following are hereby concluded;
That the cause of fire was due to overheated
electric fan.
That the case of arson is ruled out due to absence
of eyewitness and prima facie evidence that the
structure was indeed set into fire.

Recommendation:
That this case be classified as Accidental in
Nature without prejudice to reopening the same if
circumstances and the law warrants.
 Fire Incident Investigation Report (FIIR)
(Must be completed and submitted within 24 hours).

For: The District Fire Director

Subject: Fire Incident Investigation Report
Date: _______
=========================================
(This is a report which a cause was already
determined such as, rubbish fire, entrance wire fire or
meralco post fire).
 Crime Report for Arson Case
(if a person under arrest , must be filed within 36 Hours
to the Prosecutor’s Office)

Case Referral to the Prosecutor

Crime Report/ Investigation Report
Malaya at Kusang Loob na Salaysay ng Reklamo
Medical Certificate of Suspect (under arrest)
Booking/ Information Sheet (Biometric under arrest)
Affidavit of Apprehension (Arrest)
Sketch of Fire Scene
Pictures of Suspect (Mugshots)/ Fire Scene
 (Case Referral to the Prosecutor)

The Honorable City Prosecutor

City Hall, Manila

Sir/ Maam;

Respectfully referred this case of

Consummated Arson (PD 1613/ RA 7659) against
suspect _________. The alleged crime was
committed on or about at ________.
Complainant/ Witnesses:
Name and personal circumstances of Complainant/
Witnesses

Evidences:
Sworn Statements
Pictures of the Fire Scene
Sketch of the Fire Scene
 Enclosures:
Crime Report
Sworn Statements
Initial Medicol-Legal Certificate of Suspect
Affidavit of Apprehension
Sketch of Fire Scene
Pictures of Fire Scene

SFO2 ________ will present this case to your good office.

__________________
Chief, IIS
 (Case Referral to the Prosecutor)

Sir/ Madam;

Complainant/ Witnesses
Evidences
Enclosures
Investigator

________________
Chief, IIS
 Crime Report

Nature of the Case: Consummated Arson (PD 1613/ RA 7659)

Amount of Damage: PHP_____________

Complainant/ Witnesses:
DTPO:
SUSPECT:
EVIDENCE :
============================================
Details of Investigation:
Details of Investigation:
(Narrative of Facts)
After thorough evaluation on the complainants/
witnesses accounts and after examination of the
alleged crime/ fire scene, the undersigned believed
that the prima facie evidence of arson were present.

In view thereof, the undersigned respectfully recommend

the filing of Consummated Arson (PD1613/ RA 7659)
against suspect ________ based on eyewitness
accounts for intentional setting on fire the house of
___________________. CONTRARY TO LAW.
 The case will be referred to the Honorable Prosecutor for
final evaluation and appropriate action.

Signed this ___ day of April 2021, at the IIS Office, Manila
Fire District.

__________________

Investigator
Noted By:
__________________
Chief, IIS